Ankle Injury Sidelines Marrero

Chris Marrero injured his right ankle sliding into home plate in the fourth inning on Wednesday. That slide will now cost Marrero at least a month as the Nationals placed him on the disabled list.

“We’re looking at at least four weeks of no activity,” Potomac manager Randy Knorr said.

The high Class A Potomac first baseman ranked as the Nationals’ top prospect entering the season and has hit .250/.325/.453 in 256 at-bats. Marrero had been in the midst of a good stretch of hitting in his last 13 games, raising his OPS 74 points in that stretch while hitting .378/.420/.689 in 49 plate appearances.

Taking into consideration the context of his age and his environment, Marrero’s season has been a good one. At 19, Marrero is the second-youngest player in the league, older than only Frederick (Orioles) third baseman Billy Rowell. Despite being so young, Marrero has been an above-average hitter relative to other Carolina League players who have played the majority of their games at first base this season.

CAROLINA LEAGUE FIRST BASEMEN

AVG

OBP

SLG

OPS

Chris Marrero

.250

.325

.453

.778

Other CL First Basemen

.257

.327

.418

.745

The ankle injury will set back Marrero’s development as he misses playing time and works to regain his health, but he’s already ahead of the curve.